About

Profile

Flansburgh Architects is a nationally recognized, Boston-based architectural firm specializing in the programming, planning, and design of academic, civic, and residential projects. The firm has received over 80 awards for design excellence and completed approximately 250 educational projects for primary, secondary and post secondary school clients, located throughout the United States and abroad.

Philosophy

Flansburgh Architects has always been guided by the belief that well-designed buildings can improve the quality of our lives. A strong respect for context, a commitment to sustainability, an eagerness to learn, and a close, collaborative working relationship with our clients are fundamental to our design approach. This holds true whether we are restoring an historic building or creating new architecture.

True innovation comes from true understanding. In-house seminars on subjects such as sustainable design, product research, and historic restoration are common. Three-dimensional computer modeling allows us to explore design solutions rapidly, and to communicate them effectively to our clients and design team. Traditional model making still plays a key role. Our model shop can produce everything from broad contextual site models to interactive sketch models and full-size mock-ups.

We are a recognized sustainable design leader. An in-house "Green Team" was established in 2001 to raise the level of awareness throughout the office and promote the use of sustainable technologies and methods. It is our hope that by bringing thoughtful options to our clients, sustainable design strategies will be considered.

We apply the same guiding principles to a variety of settings, be it a different physical context, client goal, or demand of a program. As a result, our portfolio is stylistically diverse. We see every project as an opportunity to explore better ways to create meaningful places. Design teams are given the latitude and encouragement to develop an appropriate project specific response.

People

David A. Croteau, AIA, LEED AP, President

Mr. Croteau serves as President, setting the design direction for the firm. He has 24 years of experience in the planning, sustainable design, and management of a large variety of projects in education, the arts, and commercial markets, throughout the nation and around the globe in such places as Turkey, Lebanon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Mongolia. Mr. Croteau specializes in public, private, and international schools, for early childhood, K-12, and higher education clients. These award-winning facilities include academic buildings, dormitories, performing arts centers, business schools, and science and technology laboratories. He recently earned Excellence in Sustainable Design and Development's 2010 Merit Award for Integrated Design/Integrated Development for his work on the Hawaii Preparatory Academy Energy Lab, which will meet the Living Building Challenge and exceed requirements for the USGBC's highest Platinum Rating. Mr. Croteau is an active member of the American Institute of Architects, the Boston Society of Architects, and the US Green Building Council. He is a frequent lecturer on educational design, sustainability, and campus planning at the National Business Officers Association, the National Association of Independent Schools, and the Advancement of International Education.

Jorge M. Cruz, AIA, LEED AP, Executive Vice President

Mr. Cruz has more than 27 years of experience in project management, architectural design, contract documents, and construction administration. Specializing in public K-12 educational facilities as well as colleges and universities, his project experience ranges from residential and commercial projects to small- and large-scale municipal facilities. His areas of expertise include accessibility design, specifications, and code compliance, and through his careful planning and cost control, he brings large-scale renovations and new construction in on-time and significantly under budget. His current project management of the renovation of Malden High School is realizing more than a $10M savings in construction costs. His prior work as project manager for the new Lawrence High School netted over $7M in construction cost savings. Mr. Cruz is MCPPO certified with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is affiliated with the American Institute of Architects and the Boston Society of Architects.

Kent Kovacs, AIA, LEED AP, Vice President

Mr. Kovacs has more than 15 years of experience in master planning and architectural design for a variety of building types. His representative projects include numerous independent and K-12 public schools and college and university facilities as well as commercial/retail and mixed-use buildings. Mr. Kovacs currently serves as Principal-in-Charge for St. John's Preparatory School's new STEM Academic Building, New Wellness Athletic Center, and Benjamin Hall Renovations. He is also Principal-in-Charge for the new Holbrook PreK-12 School (the first K-12 public school approved by the MSBA) and the new West Bridgewater combined Middle - Senior High School. His recent projects include the new Freeman Centennial Elementary School in Norfolk, MA, and the Lawrence High School in Lawrence, MA, the largest high school built in Massachusetts.

Kelley Banks, AIA, LEED AP, Vice President

Ms. Banks has 17 years of experience in architectural design, contract document production, and construction administration for a variety of building types. Her experience includes numerous international, independent, and public K-12 schools as well as private residences and mixed-use buildings. Her academic facilities include dormitories, performing arts centers, libraries/media centers, and classroom buildings in a wide range of environments in the US as well as in Nepal, South Africa, Cameroon, Mongolia, and Lebanon. Her recent projects include: the design of the new 180,000-sf elementary school for International College in Beirut, Lebanon, which is certified as LEED Gold, the first facility in Lebanon with that designation; a new student/faculty residence, which uses geothermal heating & cooling, for the Williston Northampton School, Easthampton, MA; and the Creative Arts Barn, an award-winning performing arts building for Seabury Hall in Maui.